MODA Entertainment Signs Agreement With Abbott & Costello – Famous Comedy Team

March 26, 2009 - PRLog -- Abbott & Costello’s work in radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s. They made 36 films together between 1940 and 1956. Abbott and Costello were among the most popular and highest-paid entertainers in the world during World War II. Other film successes included Hold That Ghost, Who Done It?, Pardon My Sarong, The Time of Their Lives, Buck Privates Come Home, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man.

"We are extremely excited to be able to work on the ever popular comedy team, Abbott & Costello,” stated Richard Zampella, CEO of Moda Entertainment. "We look forward to introducing this beloved American comedy team to a whole new generation through new media and licensing opportunities."

Abbott and Costello first achieved national recognition when they performed their classic routines on their own radio program from 1941 to 1949. Their most popular routine “Who’s on First?” remains as well known today as the first time it was performed. The team is featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Abbott & Costello were one of the few teams to popularize a variety of different mediums in show business... in the 22 years of their partnership they went from burlesque to radio to films to performing on live stage. Lou Costello's famous high-pitched squeal "I'm a b-a-a-a-d Boy!" turned the phrase into what Liberty magazine called "a veritable laugh-cry of the nation that would be easily identified by millions." In 1942, Abbott and Costello were the top box office draw. They would remain a top ten box office attraction until 1952. In 1951, they moved to television as rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour. Each show was a live hour of vaudeville in front of a theater audience. Beginning in 1952, a filmed half-hour series, The Abbott and Costello Show, appeared in syndication on local stations across the county.

Abbot and Costello have been named "Legendary Performers" by the Smithsonian Institution and are part of their permanent collection. The comedy duo have also been recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of fame on Feb 2, 2009 along with Bon Jovi, Jerry Lewis, Phil Rizzuto and basketball great Shaquille O'Neal.

About LICENSEBOX:
LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt, amongst others.

About MODA Entertainment:
MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

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Since its inception in 1997, MODA Entertainment has maintained the unique and singular vision to keep the legacy of Classic Hollywood alive and flourishing. MODA subsidiaries consist of Production, Publishing, Licensing and Public Relations.